|
Post by tsrebel on Jan 12, 2014 10:48:17 GMT
One would think that snails would make babies at a time of the year when the conditions are optimal. This seems to not be the case here. The season starts in autumn and last until early summer. They are especially active at mating during winter. This makes no sense, because the humidity is hard to keep up during winter (often as low as 50%). This results in a rather high mortality among the babies, and may even threaten the adults if they are weakened by frequent pregnancies. Maybe it is an instinct adjusted to the conditions in their native habitat? Species where I have observed this behavior: Achatina iredalei, A. reticulata, A. immaculata, Limicolaria martensiana and L. numidica.
|
|
|
Post by muddydragon on Jan 12, 2014 20:27:42 GMT
could it perhaps be that infact their tanks get warmer as people take more care to insulate and heat their snails? Most of the snails we see this in come from fairly season-less areas so a drop in temperature perhaps signifies the approach of better conditions shortly such as the rainy season or similar? - just guessing here.
I find mine lay eggs ALL THE TIME regardless of time of year and wont stop my margies are just insane breeding machines, they almost put the fulica to shame!
However my first A. marginata candefacta clutch was just before christmas - although i'm not sure if they are fertile eggs yet.
|
|
|
Post by malacophile on Jan 12, 2014 21:21:55 GMT
My snails went through quite an egg-laying marathon throughout autumn. The wild-caught native species, though, tended to lay more during summer. For reference sake, I'm in the US.
|
|
|
Post by tsrebel on Jan 13, 2014 13:40:25 GMT
could it perhaps be that infact their tanks get warmer as people take more care to insulate and heat their snails? Most of the snails we see this in come from fairly season-less areas so a drop in temperature perhaps signifies the approach of better conditions shortly such as the rainy season or similar? - just guessing here. Those explanations sounds reasonable. I keep a heat mat on all year to keep the temperature stable (because I keep my windows open most of the summer). I've also placed the terrarium close to a radiator that has some power even in summer. This keeps the temperature stable throughout the year. The only thing that really varies a lot is the humidity (from 70-90% in summer to 40-60% in winter). The low humidity forces me to mist the tank more often in winter (twice a day in winter vs. once every second day in summer), so that may be a factor?
|
|